By Gemma L.
Since the last time we interviewed bestselling author Amélie Wen Zhao, not only did she finish a duology, but she published the beginning of yet another duology! The Scorpion and the Night Blossom features beautiful demons, fierce trials, and immortal gods who no longer have control over their lands. I loved her previous books so I knew this was going to be a romantic and enchanting adventure. No surprise, I adored every bit of it! I had the privilege to interview this brilliant author whose background reflects a multi-layered cultural history.
I wanted this story to feel fantastical and romantic and escapist.
Gemma: Your book takes place in a fantasy world that has been ravaged by monsters and has clear Chinese mythological influences. What inspired you to write a book with these elements?
Amélie: I grew up with stories rooted in Chinese mythology – they were foundational to my childhood, and so in fantasy, I’ve always wanted to incorporate those elements. This is my love letter to Chinese xiānxiá/high fantasy with sweeping fairy realms, courageous young mortals, and wickedly handsome demons – so I set out to incorporate all those elements I love as an avid fan of Chinese romantic fantasy. As a Chinese author, it’s my intention for all of my works to pay homage to elements of my culture!
Gemma: The main character, An’ying, has suffered a terrible tragedy at a young age and taken on the responsibility of taking care of her younger sister and mother. Yet she is still a resilient woman determined to save the kingdom. Who is An’ying to you, and who did you write her to be?
Amélie: Àn’yīng has echoes of me (all of my protagonists do!) – she is the older sister, she is so responsible, and she is protective of her family. She is definitely braver than I, though we share the same sense of justice. In writing and reading fantasy, I always feel as though we’re exploring the very human possibility of different choices our characters make – only with magic and kingdoms and hugely expanded stakes. I write my characters with elements of me yet also aspects that differ vastly as I like to ask myself the question: if I were in Àn’yīng’s shoes, what would I do? And the answer is, I’d probably do the same thing as her!
Gemma: Can you tell us about the title, The Scorpion and the Night Blossom? To me, it invokes imagery of danger and beauty, both of which I saw represented in the story. But what does it mean to you?
Amélie: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom felt like the perfect fit for this book! Originally we had something shorter and punchier – “The Immortality Trials” – that didn’t feel unique enough nor “romantasy” enough. Scorpions and night and blossoms are all major symbols and motifs that appear throughout the book; most importantly, they are all applicable to both characters. Yù’chén’s [the love interest] symbol is the scorpion lily, which is based on the spider lily – a flower for a tragic love story! – but he also calls Àn’yīng “little scorpion”. Àn’yīng’s name literally means “dark cherry blossom,” yet Yù’chén’s magic can make beautiful flowers bloom at night.
So, there’s quite a bit of nuance behind the title, along with the evocative imagery and poetry behind it – I felt like it was the perfect fit!
charming, confident, and beautiful exterior versus the immense self-loathing and monstrosity
Gemma: An’ying’s love interest, Yu’chen, is a dangerous competitor in the trials, but he also holds secrets of his own. I had a blast reading about the pair falling in love, but also shocked at the conflicts that enter their romance. Can you tell us more about Yu’chen?
Amélie: Yù’chén was my favorite character to write in this book. I love characters that present one way, yet as you get to know them, you peel away layers upon layers and get glimpses into who they truly are at their core. The contrast between Yù’chén’s charming, confident, and beautiful exterior versus the immense self-loathing and monstrosity in which he views himself was so compelling to explore. It’s like, here you have this absolutely gorgeous and powerful man who’s fun and makes all the girls swoon – but holds the true form of a terrifying demon beneath and hence views himself as a monster.
As well, Yù’chén was a great natural foil to Àn’yīng, who falls for him despite the fact that he is one of the beings she’s been taught to hate for half her life. Romance, to me, like any other story arc, needs conflict, which I believe is what makes enemies-to-lovers so popular as a trope. We want to see how the lovers overcome the central conflict to be with each other … or not.
Gemma: The Immortality Trials have something that An’ying wants: immortality, but not for herself! I recognized a theme of sacrifice but not at the cost of oneself. Was that your intention?
Amélie: The search for immortality is a story trope that is immensely popular in Chinese myths! I remember so many bedtime stories of some child or young maiden venturing into the mountains where immortals inhabit in search of pills of immortality. As well, family is a core value of Chinese culture. One folklore my mom always told me was about a child who searched for a miracle cure for his blind mother; I always remember the ending, where she applied the magic eyedrops and saw her child for the first time, all grown up. These are the two story tropes that I wanted to pay homage to in The Scorpion and the Night Blossom – along with the theme of sacrifice for familial love.
Gemma: What was your favorite part of the story to write?
Amélie: Either the romance or the worldbuilding. Or both! Who wouldn’t want to be soaring through ethereal, perfect fairy realms while falling in love with handsome guys?
Gemma: I’ve lost count of how many books I’ve read by now, but basically, that means I can predict a lot of endings long before I get to them. But in the case of The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, I had no idea what was coming. It was such an explosive part in the story, and reading it was so satisfying! How do you craft such an unpredictable ending?
Amélie: Thank you! Honestly, some of the twists came to me as I was writing it, and I distinctly remember thinking, “Oh my gosh, this story is fitting together like pieces of a perfect puzzle – this feels like magic.” I always know (roughly) the beginning, middle, and end of a book when I set out to write it, so I knew how I wanted The Scorpion and the Night Blossom to end (and the sequel to begin).
Gemma: What is something you’d like readers to take away from the book?
Don’t fall in love with a hot demon. Or maybe do! Hah.
On a more serious note – I wanted this story to feel fantastical and romantic and escapist. The world is strange enough these days, so I wrote a story incorporating so many aspects of my childhood favorites. I hope readers fall in love with the romance and the world.
Gemma: Can you share with us your favorite line or passage?
Amélie: “Because I can’t have you, but I can’t stop wanting you.”
my goal is to write Chinese culture and representation with all forms of storytelling
Gemma: We’d like to hear more about yourself as well! The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is your sixth published novel. How has your journey to becoming an author changed since debut?
Amélie: I can’t believe I’m here! Someone called me a “veteran author” the other day and I had to do a double take. I’m at the stage where I have to think on my strategy, the direction of my career, and the next steps I want to take. I’ve done some reflecting and my goal is to write Chinese culture and representation with all forms of storytelling; with each book I put out, I’d like to try something new. I’m so glad to be here, and I’m going to work hard to stay.
Making sure we stay is one of the challenges of publishing in a market where my heritage is not considered the mainstream.
Gemma: We’ve previously discussed the difficulties you experienced as a Chinese author writing Chinese stories in the English-speaking market. Have those difficulties changed now that you’ve published more books?
Amélie: Yes and no. I’m so thankful for all the Chinese diaspora/Asian diaspora authors who have paved the way before me, and I’m glad we have so many more Chinese/Chinese diaspora stories out in the English-speaking market today than when I first arrived in the U.S. Making sure we stay is one of the challenges of publishing in a market where my heritage is not considered the mainstream. Growing up even in China, it was normal for me to watch English movies and read English books. I hope the reverse becomes true, and readers are picking up books featuring diverse representation. In the U.S., though, the environment is changing and it’s a fight we’ll have to keep fighting.
Gemma: I know you were born in Paris, grew up in Beijing, and now live in New York City, so I’m curious to know: what is home to you?
Amélie: This is such an interesting question, and I’m sure it’ll differ for every person of diaspora. New York City is where I’ve built a life and where I live, but for me, Beijing will always be home. I think a huge part of this is the “home is where the family is” mantra, which is particularly true for me! Almost all of my family, including my parents, are in China, so that is where I’ll always consider home.
Gemma: Your stories are clearly inspired by your love of your culture and family. What elements of your books are based on real-life experiences with family and the culture around you?
Amélie: All of my writing incorporates my Chinese heritage in some shape or form! Specific to The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, Àn’yīng is an older sister like me, and I wrote her dynamic with her little sister, Méi’zi, as somewhat reflective of the protectiveness I feel with my younger sister. This type of a sibling relationship isn’t one I’ve explored in any of my other books yet, so it was fun to incorporate. And of course, Àn’yīng’s love and deep respect for both of her parents is reflective of mine, too.
My books have helped them (readers) connect more with their heritage.
Gemma: I consider you a central figure in this emerging space for Asian writers. What kind of feedback have you received from people about your contributions?
Amélie: That’s very kind, thank you! Some of my most memorable interactions have been with readers of Chinese – or sometimes Asian – descent who come up to me at in-person signings or book festivals and tell me how my books have helped them connect more with their heritage. Those moments are some of the most meaningful to me – and it’s entirely why I write what I write.
Gemma: I’ve clearly enjoyed your writing and devoured all your books, so I’m desperate to know what you’re writing next! I expect a sequel to finish The Scorpion and the Night Blossom duology, but is there something you’d like to write about in the future?
Amélie: So many things! I’ve sent so many samples/ideas to my agent’s inbox – all of which are potential stories, depending on which of those story-seedlings take root and begin to grow. Fantasy has always been my first love for reading, but there’s a contemporary/speculative I am certain I’ll write someday. As well, I’ve got a historical fantasy that I’ve been working on forever in between my actual deadlines, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. And finally, one day I’d love to write a story based on my parents’ lives. They grew up during some of the most interesting recent times in China starting from the sixties and the Cultural Revolution, so my hope is to write something meaningful one day. I don’t think I have the skills just yet, but I’m going to keep working hard and telling more stories of my heart in the meantime.
The Scorpion and the Night Blossom is available wherever books are sold. You can check out more from Amélie Wen Zhao on her website, or on social media @ameliewenzhao.